Iran frees 70,000 prisoners amid fears of COVID-19 spread

Iran's judiciary has temporarily released 70,000 prisoners across the country in an effort to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus in the prisons, Ali Asghar Jahangir, the chief of prison affairs of the country announced on Monday.

The freed inmates have been granted a leave on bail and the judiciary is considering to release more, Jahangir was quoted as saying by Semi-official Fars news agency.

Earlier, the spokesman for Iran's judiciary said that the prisoners are freed after being tested for their health condition over COVID-19.

Following the announcement of outbreak of COVID-19 in Iran, Iran's judiciary decided to give furlough to some prisoners as a measure to protect their health against the impact of virus.

Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education on Monday announced that the outbreak of novel coronavirus in Iran has affected 7,161 people, out of whom 237 have died.